There are so many fun things to do in Williamsburg with kids! Step back in time to the 18th century at Colonial Williamsburg. Then visit Jamestown Settlement to experience a soldier’s life at one of the first British forts in America. At the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, learn about the Revolutionary War’s final battle.
Wondering what to do in Williamsburg, Virginia after visiting these family-friendly historic sites? Don’t forget to plan a day at Busch Gardens Williamsburg for theme park thrills. Read on for the details for planning a perfect Williamsburg vacation.
Best Things to Do in Williamsburg, VA with Kids
Paddle the Waterways like Pocahontas
Powhatan tribes in the Williamsburg area used dugout canoes to transverse the wetlands and trade with their neighbors in this historic area.
For a different perspective on the Historic Triangle, go to the James City County Marina and rent a canoe. Paddle through the channels humming Disney’s “Just around the Riverbend”, imagining what life might have been like in the days of Pocahontas.
Zip Line the Treetops with Go Ape! Freedom Park
Need some adventure in your family vacation? Go Ape! Treetop Adventures, has plenty for the entire family. Your little baboons will surely have fun maneuvering through obstacles in the treetops and zipping down to earth.
Go Ape! Treetop Adventures, like everywhere else in the Williamsburg, has a rich history. Freedom Park sits on land that was once the setting of the Revolutionary War battle. I doubt you’ll be thinking about the Revolutionary War on a 600 foot ride down Zip Line #5!
Participate in an Archaeological Dig at Historic Jamestowne
Historic Jamestowne is the original site of Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America. This historic area is now managed by the National Park Service alongside a historic preservation society.
It is a large archaeological site and aims to teach the next generation about the work being done on site. If you’re a history lover visiting Colonial Williamsburg, don’t miss the daily Archaeology Tour that tells the stories of the artifacts found on site.
Swim in the Wave Pool at Water Country USA
Water Country USA is one of Trekaroo’s favorite water parks on the East Coast. It can get hot in Williamsburg, VA and there is no better place to cool off than at Water Country USA.
With plentiful life jackets for the little ones, a lazy river where anyone can float as long as they’d like, wave pool, and over a dozen rides and slides, there is something for the entire family at this seasonal outdoor water park.
Explore more of the state! Read our picks for the Top 10 Things to do in Virginia with kids.
Dine Like it’s 1779 at a Tavern in Williamsburg
In Colonial Williamsburg, there are four taverns where families can get a bite to eat while still immersed in living history. At these taverns, visitors can hear the servers explain the history of the hospitality business during the time of the Revolutionary War and enjoy a serenade from a musician singing a ballad in 18th century style.
Reservations can be made for dinner at King’s Arms Tavern, Shield’s Tavern, and Christiana Campbell’s Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg. King’s Arms Tavern is known for its peanut soup.
It is not necessary to make a reservation for lunch at these taverns or at Chowning’s Tavern in Colonial Williamsburg. The simple four item kids menu is the same no matter which tavern your family chooses to dine. Picky kids can choose from favorites like hot dogs and macaroni and cheese.
If you’re a family of foodies, plan your vacation for spring so that you can experience the Williamsburg Taste Festival. Families can enjoy the a variety of local food only a short walk from the tourist attractions of Colonial Williamsburg.
Take a Ride Across the James River to Colonial Williamsburg
The Jamestown-Scotland Ferry transports cars free of charge across the James River. A ferry ride across the James River is an adventure, but there is also more history to be found on the other side. Across the river from Colonial Williamsburg, families with older children will want to consider visiting the Smith Fort Plantation.
This 18th century plantation was built on the land that Chief Powhatan. It was given to John Rolfe as a dowry for Pocahontas in 1607. Nearby Chippokes Plantation State Park, one of the oldest continuously farmed plantations in the country, has an agricultural museum, outdoor activities, and river access.
Drive the Colonial Parkway from Williamsburg to Yorktown
The windy, scenic Colonial Parkway will fast-forward families almost 175 years forward from the time that the English struggled for survival at the original Jamestown Settlement to the British capitulation at Yorktown.
Yorktown Battlefield is likely the most under-appreciated point in the Historic Triangle. It is where General Cornwallis surrendered to George Washington essentially ending the American Revolution.
Not far from the battlefield is the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. This modern museum has even more living history for families to experience. Don’t forget to stop in the charming historic town for a bite to eat and a walk along the York River. We recommend lunch at the Riverwalk Restaurant where the view is amazing!
Ride the Roller Coasters at Busch Gardens Williamsburg
Leave the history behind for a day and head to Busch Gardens Williamsburg for roller coasters and delicious food. Parents visiting Colonial Williamsburg will appreciate Busch Garden’s award-winning landscaping, food, and beer.
Kids will enjoy roller coasters at Busch Gardens Williamsburg ranging from Sesame Street-themed Grover’s Alpine Express for little ones, to Tempesto, which launches more experienced thrill seekers to speeds of 63 MPH and features a high-speed inversion at 154 feet in the air.
Even if your family has already visited your local amusement park recently, you’ll still want to leave time in your Colonial Williamsburg itinerary for Busch Gardens. The European-themed villages throughout Busch Gardens Williamsburg are charming and the rides are exhilarating.
Meet the Powhatan and the English at Jamestown Settlement
Jamestown Settlement is a living history site that sits right at the edge of the James River. It is less than a mile from the historical site of the James Fort, now Historic Jamestowne. Jamestown Settlement is composed of four main areas: the Powhatan Indian Village, the James Fort, a pier where the ships are docked, and a museum.
In early May, Jamestown commemorates the anniversary of the 1607 founding of America’s first permanent English settlement. My family took part in the festivities for the 408th anniversary – recorded history doesn’t get much older than that in America!
Families agree that the living history at Jamestown Settlement is actually more accessible and interactive for kids under the age of ten than at nearby Colonial Williamsburg. At Jamestown the story is simpler.
There are two groups of people, the Native Americans and the Settlers, in a situation mirroring the familiar story of the first Thanksgiving at Plymouth. The large museum at Jamestown is easily one of the top history museums in America. It is the perfect place for older children to look a bit more critically at the stories told about the region.
Go Back in Time at Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is the highlight of any visit to the Historic Triangle. It’s impossible to see and do it all in just one visit. Most families should plan to spend one or two full days exploring the Revolutionary City at Colonial Williamsburg.
Families with younger kids will likely want to leave their days unplanned at Colonial Williamsburg and wait to see what sparks the interest of their children as they walk around town. Each family’s experience at Colonial Williamsburg will be different based on which costumed storytellers they speak and interact with during their visit.
Everything, from the food available for purchase to the events on the daily calendar, changes with the seasons. In January, our tour of the Governor’s Palace included a chat with a musician practicing the harpsichord for the winter social season. We warmed up by sipping hot apple cider as we walked down the Duke of Gloucester Street.
Summertime visitors to Colonial Williamsburg can learn the art of making mud bricks firsthand by stomping in muddy clay at the brickyard. Visit the Great Hopes Plantation at Colonial Williamsburg to experience what life was like outside the city limits for most common Virginians of the time.
Have a Blast at Kingsmill Resort
I had the absolute pleasure of staying at Kingsmill Resort with my daughter this past summer and we loved every second of our visit. During the summer and warmer months, the resort caters to families with both indoor and outdoor pools, a lazy river pool, and several restaurants that range from quick bites to gorgeous midscale spots that overlook the Chesapeake Bay.
For our stay, we spent two nights in a condo-style lodging complete with a full kitchen, washer/dryer combo (came in so handy to wash out swimsuits!), and a balcony with pretty views of the sunsets. We headed to the closest grocery store (less than five miles away) and stocked up on meal ingredients and snacks to cut costs.
Our guest rooms were on the top level of our building, so we did have to carry our suitcases up three sets of steps. It wasn’t a big deal for us, but if you have littles in strollers, there are no elevators to use so be sure to request a lower floor.
As for additional on-property activities, the bay is where you’ll need to go. The property offers kayaking, standup paddle boarding, and swimming in the natural water.
If you want a fun way to get around, you can rent a golf cart for the day at the golf course, play some tennis, or take advantage of the giant indoor hot tub.
Enjoy Indoor Waterpark Fun at the Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg is another favorite for Trekaroo families staying in Williamsburg. The indoor water park is just as welcoming the first week of January as it is the final week of August. At the outdoor Howlers Peak Ropes Course, adventure seekers can traverse rope bridges up to 50 feet in the air.
Don’t visit the Great Wolf Lodge Williamsburg without reading our Great Wolf Lodge tips first!
Take a Day Trip to Hampton Roads
Part of the challenge of planning a family vacation to the Colonial Williamsburg area is that there are so many things to do in Williamsburg with kids! If you’re looking for a change of pace, nearby Norfolk and Hampton are packed with family-friendly attractions.
The entire Hampton Roads region is known for its naval and maritime history. Norfolk is home to region’s the star attraction, the USS Wisconsin.
The Battleship Wisconsin is open for the public to explore as part of the ticket to the neighboring Nauticus Museum. My own kids were quite entertained checking out everything to the ship from the radio control room to the living quarters.
For a total escape from history, check out the Norfolk Botanical Gardens. There is a huge children’s garden complete with three separate water features.
My kids enjoyed the expertly manicured formal gardens with lion statues and perennial flowers. We could have easily spent the entire day strolling the paths and stopping to smell the roses.
This post was sponsored by Visit Greater Williamsburg. No specific opinions were asked to be expressed by the sponsor and the author’s resulting coverage is unbiased.
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